Kerby's Koney Island

7/27/2013

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One of my earliest Koney memories is watching...not eating the tennis pro at Beachwood Swim Club in Troy eat a Kerby's Koney in front of me while my stomach growled.  With over 15 Metro-Detroit locations Kerby's Koney Island is a staple southeast Michigan.  Kerby's also happens to be my dad's favorite Koney Island restaurant and he has had them all at 70+ years old.  Because of a recent pickleball accident (ruptured Achilles blog is here), I had takeout from Kerby's to celebrate the cast coming off, and because July is Koney month in Detroit the Koney was only 99 cents!
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The Koney
Classic is the first word that comes to mind with the Kerby's Koney.  It is a Koney that does everything right but for better or worse does not have a personality of it's own.  The hot dog is a seems to be skinned Koegel  frank, in bun steamed to Koney perfection.  The chili is classic in texture though a bit bland in taste... it could use just a tad more flavor.  The chopped onions and strip continue the classic Koney theme.
Koney Score 4.7/5
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The Chili Cheese Fries

Kerby's has it down, this is the way chili cheese fries are supposed to be.  The fries were crisp where they should be soggy where they should be.  The cheese is pre-melted and tasty.  Once again I found the chili to be lacking some in flavor and that brought the whole dish down just a little a bit.  I was still scraping the bottom with my fork.
Chili Cheese Fry Score 4.7/5.0
Overall 9.4/10
Great Koney, Koney sauce flavor somewhat lacking.
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Athens Coney Island Reviewed

7/9/2012

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With the surprising closing of Spangas Coney Island after 23 years serving metro-Detroit, and a recent Detroit Free Press article about the decline of the Coney Island and the rise of the Hani (chicken sandwich) I was a bit depressed, so  I took the suggestion and decided to to try Athens Coney Island on Woodward in Royal Oak and was excited because it had been a long time since I ate at Athens.

As with most Coney Island restaurants Athens has a considerable menu, but is known for its classic Coney’s.  I ordered ordered 1 Coney and a side of chili cheese fries, I also took 1 Coney to go, to snack on later (a good move).  On the table were Woebers All -American mustard, Red Gold ketchup and Frank's Red Hot Cayenne Pepper Sauce.

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The Coney
Spicy...the first word that comes to mind when tasting this Coney, I think the spice came from the fresh chopped onion or possibly pepper in the chili.  The bun was steamed with mustard squeezed on the bun before the hot dog is added.  The hot dog was a skinless bun length and to be frank and it is obvious there has been some thought put into kind of hot dog used because it is definitely a dog made for a Coney .  A generous portion of thicker style Detroit Coney chili is was on top almost a mix of Detroit and Flint chili, I prefer it to be a bit thinner but it was good nonetheless.  In summation one of the better Coney's in metro-Detroit and a true complement to Spangas.
Coney Score 4.6/5 
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The Chili Cheese Fries
Classic, a large portion of thinly cut crispy fries, the right amount of chili and melted American cheese.  If you want to try the classic combination and feel full afterwards this is it.  The only knock on these fries is the chili and very slight only because of personal tastes the chili was a bit thick and too spicy but another blogger may give these fries a 5.0
Chili Cheese Fry Score 4.6/5.0
Overall
Athens is the quintessential metro-Detroit Coney Island and has that old school diner feel. To me it has always been a close second to Spangas, but now that Spangas has closed Athens is at the top.  It's menu has many other deserving items but the flagpole item, the Coney island hot dog sets a standard as do the chili cheese fries. If you are from out of town and want a true Detroit food experience eat at Athens and if you live in metro-Detroit you know what I mean.
Overall 9.2/10
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Village Coney Island Reviewed

8/20/2011

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Village Coney Island is located on Adams Road in Birmingham, MI.  I had never eaten there but after getting a haircut it is a convenient place to get lunch.  The restaurant is set up shotgun style, and appears to have Greek ownership.  There is a considerable menu, notwithstanding the traditional Coney restaurant items.  It was also fairly busy for a Saturday afternoon at 3pm so they must be doing something right.  As usual I ordered a Coney and Chili Cheese Fries  - this is how it turned out...

The Coney
After reading the enormous menu I was hesitant, wondering how much effort could they could possibly put into the Coney and CCF’s.  In the end, I was kind of right.  This is what happens when Coney’s and CCF’s meet corporate America, kind of what I think they would taste like at Applebee’s not bad just not “it”.  The Coney was served on an oval plate...a bit unusualthick and juicy with a smoky flavor, a high end dog for sure - but one that tastes more like a restaurant hot dog than a Coney dog.  The onions were hand chopped and decent, the chili needed some flavor but it had a good texture.  The bun was fine; however the Coney was served without the requisite mustard!  I was actually surprised how much I enjoyed the Coney considering it was something of a corporate Coney.  But it was filling and the hot dog was flavorful.
Coney Score 3.7/5

Chili Cheese Fries
The great thing about chili cheese fries is everyone does them different.  Village Coney Island's "restaurant food" theme continued I have to say I was not excited when they were served.  The fries appeared to be the conventional restaurant type bought frozen probably from Sysco.  The chili remained alright again lacking some flavor. The savior was the pre-melted cheese.  Yet, I was surprised once again and the combination of ingredients worked.  The helping was large the fries were crispy and good the cheese was good.
Chili Cheese Fry Score 3.6/5

Overall 
I would consider a Village Coney a good alternative to traditional Coney Island restaurants especially if you are eating with people who want to order something besides Coney Islands.  The Coney and CCF's were a notch above a regular restaurant trying to serve Coney’s but a notch below a restaurant specializing in Coney Islands.
7.3/10





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Spangas Coney Island Reviewed

5/12/2011

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Spangas once upon time called Spagos, is located at 13 mile and Woodward in Royal Oak, MI.  
Spangas is the second review for a reason... it has long been my favorite Detroit style coney island, mainly because of the chili cheese fries and I wanted to find out how it stacked up against Lafayette.  Although the coney did not quite match  Lafayette's the chili cheese fries remain in my opinion the bar which all coney islands should strive to reach.
After eating I had the opportunity to speak with the owner Tommy, who has been serving coney's at Spangas for 23 years.

The Coney
Spangas serves a natural casing frank that is not quite bun length but fairly thick, meaty and surprisingly filling , the bun is steamed and the generous amount of chili is on the spicey side. Onions appear to be hand chopped and flavorful though a few more would have added been ok with me.  One strip of French's mustard is added by the cook and of course I added more plus ketch-up.
Coney score 3.8/5

Chili Cheese Fries
A generous portion of thinly sliced French fries are topped with with an equally generous amount of chili and what appears to be melted nacho cheese with none of the spice of nacho cheese.  The combination and texture of the crispy fries with the spicy chili and the smooth pre-melted cheese are an  unbelieveable blend of flavors.  Spangas definatley has perfected this item.
Chili Cheese fry score 5/5

Overall
This is a Detroit Coney Island!
8.8/10
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Lafayette Coney Island Reviewed

4/13/2011

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The very first review is of the the iconic Lafayette Coney Island in downtown Detroit.
Lafayette is located next to American Coney Island on Lafayette Blvd. and was one of the first Detroit style coney islands.  Lafayette is a very small restaurant with some unique characteristics - only Coca-Cola is served as a fountain drink all other soda’s are in a can,  customers can sit a a community table and discuss the merits of coney’s together.  Furthermore, orders are yelled out by the server while the food is served within minutes of the order.  Finally, if you really want to the whole experience use the restroom you won’t forget it.

Coney Review
The natural-casing franks served at Lafayette are supplied by Winter Sausage in Eastpointe, which has been Lafayette's supplier for decades ( just read on freep.com!) Lafayette serves a natural casing hot dog well cooked, classic texture, steamed bun, moderately spicy chili and thinly sliced onions, served with one strip of mustard I added more! Ketchup and mustard are served from traditional yellow and red dispensers.  Overall one of the best coney’s around, the only drawback was the onions were watery and flavorless. Myself and one of the people I was eating with originally ordered only one but had to get a second.
Coney score 4.5/5

Chili Cheese Fries
Fries are thin light in color and crispy though the portion size is small.  Chili is mildly spicy and is a good pairing, cheese is shredded cheddar which is allowed to melt on top.  The fries were good but there was not enough chili and I prefer the premelted cheese to shredded cheese on the chili.
Chili cheese fry score 3/5

Overall 
The coney’s are some of the best around, the chili cheese fries  were a small portion and not my favorite kind of cheese.  Lafayette is a must eat for any coney lover.
7.5 out of 10
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